Dhaka, Moscow to amend Rooppur nuclear power deal

Dhaka and Moscow have signed a protocol to bring amendments to an agreement signed by both sides on development of Rooppur nuclear power plant, reports UNB.

On sideline of the 62nd General Conference of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) being held in Vienna Bangladesh and Russia signed the protocol on 17 September.

In a statement on Tuesday, Russian state atomic energy agency Rosatom said the protocol was signed to bring in some amendments in the intergovernmental agreement signed on 2 November, 2010 on partnership in construction of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.

It also said Bangladesh can now involve Russia in developing physical protection systems for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Architect Yeafesh Osman, minister for science and technology, government of Bangladesh and Alexey Likhachev, director general of Rosatom signed the protocol on behalf of their respective governments.

The protocol provides for the possibility of involving a specialised Russian company in designing and installation of physical protection system for the main and auxiliary facilities of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The protocol also includes the clause saying that all the safety and security measures to ensure physical protection of the nuclear power plant to be taken in accordance with the requirements and guidelines of IAEA.

Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors, each of 1,200 MW capacities is being constructed by Atomstroyexport (ASE), engineering division of Rosatom under strict monitoring by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA).

Rooppur Nuclear Power Project (RNPP) with two VVER-1200 reactors, each of 1,200 MW capacity is being constructed according to Russian design, at Ishwardi of Pabna district, 160 km from Dhaka. In accordance with the general contract signed on 25 December, 2015 Atomstroyexport (Engineering Division of Rosatom) is implementing the project as the general contractor.

The Russian VVER-1200 reactors that are selected for the first NPP in Bangladesh, was successfully set up at Unit No 1 of Novovoronezh NPP-2, said the statement.